As the world continues to be more competitive and technically
complex, knowledge and understanding of fundamental mathematics and
science, and their application to the solution of real world problems
is increasingly important. There is significant evidence and concern
that the American education system is falling behind the rest of the
world, especially in the areas of science and mathematics. The
Mikkelson Foundation, The Mikkelson Education Fund, and The Mikkelson
Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Fund were established to
improve scientific and technical education by providing support for
teachers and organizations involved in science and mathematics
education, and for students studying science, engineering, and
mathematics.

IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF TECHNICAL
EDUCATION AND COMPETENCE IN K-12 SCHOOLS:
We believe that an important element for improving the level of science
and mathematics understanding is to generate in students the desire to
learn and understand the technical principles of how things work. We
feel that increased interest in science can be encouraged by
knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers who can make the subject matter
relevant and understandable. We wish to identify such teachers and
provide them with opportunities to renew or advance their knowledge and
enthusiasm. Our interest is in preparing students for success in
technical fields that require a strong understanding of and competence
in advanced mathematics and science. Our focus is on the improvement of
the teachers' academic and technical skills with hands-on learning
experiences in science and mathematics.

DEVELOP AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR
IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHERS' TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE:
We work with educational institutions and other non-profit
organizations to develop educational programs in science and technology
which are aimed at improving the scientific and technical understanding
and skills of K-12 school teachers. We especially encourage programs
which have a laboratory or experimental component which can be
implemented in classroom teaching.

SUPPORT PROMISING STUDENTS
STUDYING IN TECHNICAL FIELDS:
We provide scholarships for highly qualified students studying science,
mathematics, and engineering. Scholarships are renewable for up to four
years of study at accredited colleges and universities.

The Mikkelson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation
incorporated in Colorado in October of 1999. The Mikkelson Foundation
was established to improve scientific and technical education by
providing support for teachers and organizations involved in science
and mathematics education, and for students studying science,
engineering, and mathematics. The Foundation provides scholarship funds
for college students studying math, science, and engineering, and also
provides funding for teacher skill improvement programs in mathematics
and science.

Science and Engineering Scholarships

Each year,The Mikkelson Foundation Scholarship is awarded to an
outstanding graduate of a Colorado high school who has been accepted to
pursue a course of study or instruction at an accredited college or
university granting undergraduate and/or graduate degrees. The
recipient will be a student who has demonstrated an ability to excel in
the academic disciplines of mathematics and science, who will major in
engineering, physical or biological sciences, or mathematics, and who
has the potential for substantial additional achievement after
graduation.

We currently support initiatives for organizations and
institutions which provide teacher training programs in science and
mathematics and a scholarship program for high school seniors. We
believe that improved knowledge and understanding of fundamental
mathematics and science, and their application to the solution of real
world problems is increasingly important for economic improvement in an
ever more competitive world.

The Mikkelson Education Fund and the subsequent Mikkelson
Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Fund were established to
encourage and reward excellence in the teaching of mathematics and
science. The main focus of the funds is to provide opportunities for
K-12 teachers to attend short courses, seminars, and workshops which
will improve or renew their technical knowledge and skills. We provide
funding for tuition, travel, and living expenses for workshops,
seminars, and projects which the teachers expect to find useful and
enjoyable.

The Mikkelson Education Fund provides grants to non-profit groups,
organizations, and institutions which provide teacher training
experiences consistent with the Fund's objectives. The Mikkelson
Education Fund generally provides support for existing programs and a
small number of participants. We primarily support educational requests
in Colorado. Through the Mikkelson Education Fund we expect to be able
to support two to three group or institutional programs each year.
Grants will be evaluated on the basis of the suitability of the program
or project to further the goals of The Mikkelson Education Fund.

The purpose of The Mikkelson Mathematics and Science Teachers
Scholarship Fund is to encourage and reward excellence in the teaching
of mathematics and science. We believe that an extremely important
element for improving the level of science and mathematics competence
is to generate, in students, the desire to learn and understand how
things work. Increased interest in science can be encouraged by
knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers who can make the subject matter
relevant and understandable. Our interest is in preparing students for
success in fields that require a strong understanding of and competence
in advanced mathematics and science. Our focus is to identify
individuals who are deeply committed to teaching and provide them with
opportunities to renew or advance their enthusiasm, skills, and
knowledge.